All right, I finally understood, I thought, and sighed. Youre being driven out of your own house, I muttered.
Victor, Mum and I are on our way to you! Natalie shouted into the telephone at three in the morning.
Dont bother coming, I answered sleepdazed. Were asleep!
Victor, this isnt a joke! Get a proper bed for Mum and some sort of cot for me! she complained.
We dont have any cots, and every bedroom is full! I said, yawning contagiously.
Are you mocking me? she snapped.
Sister, what do you want from me? Why are you showing up at my door at night? You have your own flatgo stay there! I replied, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.
Victor! Natalie snapped, cutting me off. You have to let us stay the night! We have nowhere else to go!
Whats happened? I asked innocently, pushing my wife aside.
Covering the receiver with my hand, I called out, Anne, Mum and Emily are at the door! Theyre bursting in!
Couldnt you find another time? Anne asked groggily.
Glad were on the same page, I said with a smile.
All the while Natalie kept on explaining, punctuating her words with sighs, whines and occasional shrieks.
Enough, make it short and clear! I demanded.
Victor! The doors jammed!
How badly? I asked.
First the lock seized, then the hinges went crooked and wouldnt close, and when I tried to push it with my shoulder it jammed completely. The lock wont turn at all! Natalie wailed, on the verge of tears. Mum and I were in our houserobes on the front steps! Were neighbours, you know how troublesome they can be.
Very interesting! I laughed broadly. The payback door has finally caught up with you!
My wife, who had been listening, shook her head theatrically, covering her mouth to hide a yawn. She wanted to laugh out loud but didnt want to interrupt me.
Victor, well have to wait until morning and then call a tradesman. Order a cab and pay by cardtheres cash in the flat! Natalie urged.
So are you staying or waiting? I pressed.
Dont be daft! she shouted. Were sitting here like two hens on the pavement under these cursed doors!
In those early days, parents loved their children equally and gave them everything they could. As the children grew, favourites appearedsome were loved more, some less. The same applied to care: the beloved received more, the rest only what remained.
When I decided to marry, my younger sister Emily immediately raised the issue of me and my young wife sharing our flat.
Victor, shes my sisterinlaw, Im your aunt! And I have my own house! I want to come and go as I please! she declared.
So, what, youll do whatever you like? I asked, surprised.
The very presence of another adult makes me uncomfortable! Emily quoted from some internet wisdom.
What sort of discomfort? I frowned. Anne and I are at work during the day. In the morning you and Mum are still sleeping, and at night were home, eating dinner, then retreating to our room!
Yes, of course! Emily huffed. And you wont even use the toilet? I might be doing yoga in the hall at that hour!
Believe me, theres nothing exciting for us here! I replied. Whos going to watch you?
Victor! Emily shrieked, then added her mother to the call. Tell him why we dont want a stranger in the house!
Nina, my mother said, shes your wife, and Emily is our daughterinlawpractically family.
This is distant village kin, but by law shes an outsider! Mum, I dont want to live like in a council house!
Nina, who always favoured her daughter because my son reminded her of the husband who had abandoned her with two children, leaned gently toward Emily.
Victor, we love you, but we barely know Anne. Well meet her, just not under these cramped circumstances. Youre a man, after allliving on Mums neck isnt right. Your children will come, Emilys still young. If you host friends at night, the kids will clash with the relatives!
All that was said, I sighed, Everythings clear now. Theyre trying to evict me from my own home!
My son, no ones evicting you, Mum replied. We just want to avoid trouble.
You could live without a wife, Emily said, but with one you should each go your own way!
Anne soon sensed something was amiss between Victor, Mum and Emily, because after the wedding they had planned to stay with us to save for a deposit on a house. Three weeks before the ceremony I moved my belongings into a rented flat and brought Anne there.
Understanding the situation, Anne kept her mouth shut. She wasnt thrilled about living next to my family, but for Victors sake she endured what was necessary.
It didnt work out, and thats fine, she told her friend. Victor looks gloomy.
Anne, dont get involved in that mess! advised Katya. Itll keep your head clear.
Ill manage, but Victors having a hard time! Katya added. Youre his wifesupport him! Now youre his family, and were just relatives.
Victor may have been compliant, but he quickly let go of any grudge when his own familys affairs piled up. He needed to settle his home and finances. Then Anne gave him a son.
Pulling any further is pointless, he said sadly. We cant save much more. Well just scrape by.
I think the same, Anne agreed. When the mortgage payment comes, youll have to pay whether you like it or not.
We took out a thirtyyear mortgage. We had hoped for twenty years, but any longer would have stripped us of any enjoyment.
Four years after little Toby was born, the joy faded. Our second boy, Sam, arrived with a triumphant cry.
Nothing to worry about, Victor said. Well manage.
Of course, love, Anne replied. Where shall we go?
When Sam turned five, Victor managed to secure two vouchers for a holiday cottage. We seldom vacationed, at most visiting Annes relatives in the countryside, but a day in the garden hardly counted as a break.
Then the holiday brochure called out: Anne! A swimming pool, spa treatments, disco for the overthirty, five meals a dayroyal treatment!
Children included? Victor asked.
For a small extra fee you can bring them, though perhaps well leave them behind.
Shall we lock them in a room or send them to my mums village? Anne laughed. It was all in jest; shed never actually watch the kids, being busy with work, the garden and the house.
She would simply put them in a room with a television and feed them on a schedule.
Mum, Victor pleaded, may I take the children with me for a week? Anne and I want a break.
And where are you off to? Natalie snapped, refusing to let Mum speak.
To the sanatorium out of town, Victor replied. We havent really rested in eight years.
So youre heading to a sanatorium and we have to guard your little bandits? Natalie fumed. What a splendid prospect!
Mum, Victor said, still addressing his mother, theyre wellbehaved lads. Just feed them, check theyre dressed, and tuck them in. Otherwise theyre almost independent.
Nina thought for a moment. Victor, no! Natalie, speaking for her mother, shouted. We just refurbished the house, new furnitureexpensive stuff! Are you going to ruin it? And sometimes my husband drops by. There arent enough children here already!
Mother! Victor exclaimed, his hope draining. Weve just redone the renovations, and Natalie is settling her life. You and Anne are a familysort out your own matters!
Thank you, Mother, Victor said, each syllable a sigh.
We went to the sanatorium with the boys, and for a while I said nothing of my relatives. I felt wounded.
Then an unexpected crisis struck, and I had to turn to family for help.
Mum, Natalie, Anne and I havent been paid this month. We need to meet the mortgage instalment urgently. Could you lend us three or four days? I asked.
We dont have spare money, dear, Nina replied, looking at her daughter.
We do, Natalie clapped her mothers hand reassuringly. Dont worry!
Youve saved me! I breathed, relief flooding me.
No! Natalie declared firmly. Youll have to fend for yourself. Weve set aside money for a new front door. The installer is due next week, and we must pay a deposit and the labour.
Why, Natalie? Im only asking for four days! I protested.
Its unknown how youll repay! I need to pay the man in a week, then another five days later hell fit the door and expect full payment! she snapped.
What about you, Natalie, pay it yourself! I snapped back. Our situation is an emergency! The loan is due tomorrow, the salary arrives the day after. Ill bring the cash straight away or transfer it!
You talk beautifully, but Im not going to fly in with the doors! she retorted. If they delay you further, what will I do?
Lets go to the solicitor now and sort it all out. You can even draw a penalty of a thousand percent! I suggested.
Ill wait for your penalties, the door deal will be over! she replied. So, brother, off you go, dont cough!
I managed to wriggle out, took the money to an old friend who was a solicitor, and even paid earlier than required. Yet Mum and Natalie ended up on my blacklist.
I told Anne everything, and she answered with a line shed once read: A wise person does not seek revenge, but waits for life to settle the score.
The waiting was brief
Here we are! Victor said. My card is empty! I have no desire to hunt for money to help relatives, especially such as you!
Youre mad! Emily cried. Were your kin!
And the doors! I pointed out. Your doors became the final chord, after which I have no wish to speak with you!
Dont you feel ashamed, son, to stoop so low? Mothers voice rang.
Im not taking revenge, I replied. Im finally repaying debts!
You never took anything from us? Natalie asked, missing my hint.
I took your kindness, your love, your careexactly what you gave me. Now I return it in equal measure! I said, ending the call and hanging up.
It was not vengeance, but a debt finally settled.
